bitter

i stare at the coffee in my cup,

cream swirling like chemtrails.

i didn’t add enough because it’s still acidic.

i think i burned the coffee

and i swear i don’t usually do that

i know my feelings aren’t facts but

i feel like you’re mad at me

or maybe i’m mad about me.

a tear falls into my cup and

the salt gives it an edge the caffeine couldn’t.

it scalds my tongue as i drink it too fast and i flinch but

i keep drinking

because the high, tight hum of pain on my tongue is louder than

the low, leaden drone of my thoughts.

i wash down bitterness and acidity with salt in the wound.